Members of the Monte Holland family went snow tubing at Hidden Valley (Southwestern Pennsylvania on the Laurel Ridge) on December 27. My grandson Marcus, 7, helped me document that visit: click on Snow Tubing
Part 1: The Holland Family . The following relates my first and last snow tube ride.

A snow tube ride became a part of my bucket list, and was accomplished before I ever had a chance to write it down.
I decided I should try one ride if I was going to write this piece. Of course I had to be color coordinated, so chose the yellow tube. As I stepped onto the conveyor belt I almost lost my footing, and I was approaching the top of the hill I wondered what kind of a nut I was.

However, it was too late to change my mind—the only way down was via snow tube.

At the top I quickly snapped a couple of photos before sitting down.

Then the worker gave my tube a gentle shove.

The ride was fast and steep. My knit hood was blown off at the first crest.

As the tube crossed the crest I saw the hill’s steepness.

“I’m on this ride to the end,” I thought. “There’s no stopping now.”

The next crest included a dip and a second crest. They preceded a longer section of hill. I heard a yell coming from my throat. The tube turned and I was going down backward. At least before I could see what was coming. Perhaps going backwards was OK.

My heart beat rapidly as I felt the cold air flashing by me. All too soon my ride was over.

Bad hair day?????

“I knew I would only do this once,” I told everyone as the boys helped me rise from the snow tube. “And I was right. But it was fun.”

Next time we are snow tubing I will do what I do best—watch and take photographs.